CHARM


Meaning of CHARM in English

I. ˈchärm noun

Etymology: Middle English charme, from Anglo-French, from Latin carmen song, from canere to sing — more at chant

Date: 14th century

1.

a. : the chanting or reciting of a magic spell : incantation

b. : a practice or expression believed to have magic power

2. : something worn about the person to ward off evil or ensure good fortune : amulet

3.

a. : a trait that fascinates, allures, or delights

b. : a physical grace or attraction — used in plural

her feminine charm s

c. : compelling attractiveness

the island possessed great charm

4. : a small ornament worn on a bracelet or chain

5. : a fundamental quark that has an electric charge of + 2/3 and a measured energy of approximately 1.5 GeV ; also : the flavor characterizing this particle

• charm·less -ləs adjective

II. verb

Date: 14th century

transitive verb

1.

a. : to affect by or as if by magic : compel

b. : to please, soothe, or delight by compelling attraction

charm s customers with his suave manner

2. : to endow with or as if with supernatural powers by means of charms ; also : to protect by or as if by spells, charms, or supernatural influences

3. : to control (an animal) typically by charms (as the playing of music)

charm a snake

intransitive verb

1. : to practice magic and enchantment

2. : to have the effect of a charm : fascinate

Synonyms: see attract

• charm·er ˈchär-mər noun

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.